tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43495726200361603652019-05-13T05:17:02.823-04:00A Major ShiftShifting body, heart, mind, and spirit from "terrific" to "even better", living and believing in a more consecrated lifejenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-27903168230460409452019-02-10T22:36:00.000-05:002019-02-10T22:40:54.361-05:00Sacrament Prayers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wheat:<br /><br /><i>O God the Eternal&nbsp;</i><br /><i>Father I ask you</i><br /><i>in the name of your Son&nbsp;</i><br /><i>Jesus&nbsp;</i><br /><i>Christ</i><br /><i>to bless</i><br /><i>and sanctify&nbsp;</i><br /><i>this bread</i><br /><i>to my soul</i><br /><i>who partakes of it</i><br /><i>that I may eat&nbsp;</i><br /><i>in remembrance&nbsp;</i><br /><i>of the body</i><br /><i>of your Son</i><br /><i>and witness to you O God</i><br /><i>my Eternal&nbsp;</i><br /><i>Father</i><br /><i>that I am willing&nbsp;</i><br /><i>to take upon me&nbsp;</i><br /><i>the name of your Son</i><br /><i>and always remember Him</i><br /><i>and keep his commandments&nbsp;</i><br /><i>which He&nbsp;</i><br /><i>has given me</i><br /><i>that I may always&nbsp;</i><br /><i>have His Spirit&nbsp;</i><br /><i>to be with me</i><br /><i>Amen</i><br /><br /><br />Grapes:<br /><br /><i>O God, the Eternal&nbsp;</i><br /><i>Father I ask you</i><br /><i>in the name of your Son</i><br /><i>Jesus</i><br /><i>Christ</i><br /><i>to bless</i><br /><i>and sanctify</i><br /><i>this wine</i><br /><i>to my soul</i><br /><i>who drinks of it</i><br /><i>that I may do it&nbsp;</i><br /><i>in remembrance</i><br /><i>of the blood</i><br /><i>of your Son</i><br /><i>which was shed</i><br /><i>for me</i><br /><i>that I may witness&nbsp;</i><br /><i>to you O God</i><br /><i>my Eternal</i><br /><i>Father</i><br /><i>that I do always&nbsp;</i><br /><i>remember Him</i><br /><i>that I may have&nbsp;</i><br /><i>His Spirit&nbsp;</i><br /><i>to be with me</i><br /><i>Amen</i></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-86796134384753943652018-09-14T17:31:00.002-04:002018-09-14T17:33:06.357-04:00Know it All<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">What an amazing time to be alive!<br /><br />For context of this post, watch a few dozen seconds of the video&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shannon.james.5688/posts/10216347167539305?__xts__[0]=68.ARAX4HWU1vpmd_WiNCrzlhEl0q2v0Lf3nhW5m7E0QIng8Qf_1ThOVR30CodJ-FIyfsV2dHP_W7w8HIuV5tbUVKbEvBGcAs89_hmdrgmy7Ea-QiTabIKkj7olnrNwebr6zmMO_2Z5DVuStpWJoZbKfeJu2A_nczUYi17WYPHwk0UycV1fqc9SWio&amp;__tn__=C-R">here</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>So much information right at our fingertips. So much false information easily debunked, and the replacement then quickly debunked, and debunked, and debunked. It's almost too much to sort out sometimes.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>A friend told me years ago to "hold all revelation (information) loosely", and what wise advice that has been. When you claim humility and openness to more truth, you're able to receive more. To claim pride and know it all already, there's no room for more.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Only recently we could see that inside an atom were protons, neutrons, and electrons, and we trust that super-powered instruments were and are telling us the truth. But the truth is, we're only told that, by people we "trust" to be honest.&nbsp; Are they honest?&nbsp; Can you name who discovered the quark?&nbsp; Who named it?&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Only recently do we hear of people re-doubting the heliocentric model of the universe, reverting to previous theories of a flat model. How can anyone claim to know it all?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Setting down stakes for truth only proves ignorance, because you can see an individual quark no more than I can see the outermost star.&nbsp; But in truth, you can see a quark, as it supposedly makes up everything around you.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>To claim to know God, based on old books, or to have searched the universe and not found God anywhere and assert God is no were to be found are just two sides of the same coin.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, to believe, that's where the marvel, awe and wonder are found, because it allows for revelation of MORE, whether it supports or refutes the claim.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>But to make a decision only asserts you know it all, and none of us do, unless we have our own evidence and personal witness.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Lack of tangible evidence does not mean something does not exist, just as I have no evidence of the presence of atoms, quarks, and whatever else is smaller than a quark.&nbsp; Must I believe your witness?&nbsp; Or some unknown scientist?&nbsp; Not all evidence must be tangible, as I can assert I ate chicken salad last year for lunch, but can't prove it to someone any more than you can prove to me whether or not you stopped at a red light this morning.&nbsp; I can't prove to you how a cell phone works on invisible connections, but it works.&nbsp; Sometimes our evidence IS invisible.&nbsp; That doesn't mean it does not exist.&nbsp;</div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-20918597286849782262018-09-07T18:36:00.003-04:002018-09-07T20:29:08.898-04:00Catholics, Mormons & Private Parts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div>For context of this post, see <a href="https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-samaritans-night/">here</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-samaritans-night/">https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-samaritans-night/</a></div><div><br /></div>I asked my friend, who is an active, practicing Catholic, how the local congregation has handled the recent news of over 1000 Pennsylvania children being abused by over 300 priests, some of whom had been priests in our town.&nbsp; She told me this, paraphrased: <br /><br />"The priests knew ahead of time about the news release of the abused. They warned the church that it would be released, and invited them to let them know if there were any further individuals who had suffered abuse. They advocated prayers for the victims, and justice for the accused." <br /><br />Less than two weeks after that news broke, I learned that Sam Young received a letter for a LDS disciplinary council, due to his efforts to change the LDS bishop's interviews for children and youth.&nbsp; Sam has a website (<a href="http://www.invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/">www.invisiblescubit.wordpress.com</a>) where he has published accounts of many who have dealt with the consequences of closed-door, private interviews where sexually explicit questions have been asked of minors.&nbsp; Some have been molested.&nbsp; Some raped.&nbsp; I have only been able to stomach reading a few accounts due to the extreme graphic nature of so many of them.&nbsp; He has stated that he has received over 3000 accounts to date, though he has not published nearly that many.<br /><br />The news of his trial reminded me so poignantly of Denver Snuffer, who five years ago and also this weekend, was excommunicated for "apostasy". <br /><br />[What was his apostate sin worthy of getting the ax? Addressing some of the uglier history of the Church in a book called Passing the Heavenly Gift. Because he wouldn't break contract for publication, he was ex'ed without even being present at his hearing.] <br /><br />We'll see what happens with Sam - I'm pretty sure it'll be the same for him, and it's likely already decided, just as it was clearly done with Denver. This is not how LDS scripture indicates that these councils are supposed to work. The whole thing IS a kangaroo court, once again. They are becoming all too familiar. <br /><br />I support Sam Young in his efforts. Because I support him, and the headquarters deems him an apostate, I am technically in open opposition to the LDS Church, which also, in their interpretation, means I'm apostate. That word used to be a very huge insult to me, but seeing the persecution of faithful believers dampens the blow for me, personally.&nbsp; I think this issue begs all churchgoers address a larger doctrine though, which is this: <br /><br />These men are not God and do not represent God. They don't speak for God, unless of course, they actually have something to relay that is actually FROM God. I don't care what church you participate in. Confessing your "sins" to a man pretending to represent God is not necessary, and to continue to regurgitate the saying that "God is at the head of this C/church" is a reckless teaching.&nbsp; Be careful how you say that, church.&nbsp; Scripture indicates we are to confess to God and in some instances the church body, but not a pseudo-god. If as a society of those who BELIEVE in God - Catholic, Christian, Mormon, whatever - we don't openly speak against this practice collectively, we will CONTINUE to see abuses of power and the pedophiles will have a playground of ladders to climb to claim religious notoriety and safety under their given Church umbrella. Because the church body - particularly the Mormon one - is not allowed to criticize the church head, who is so frequently equated with God Himself.&nbsp; This is the case with the Catholics, and this is especially the case with the Mormons. <br /><br />I saw in one Facebook group this week where a woman stated (paraphrased): "I believe President Nelson is looking younger every day!&nbsp; I truly believe he is in the process of being translated."&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; The man who had a direct hand in excommunicating SO many believers is being translated?<br /><br />God may be at the head of the church (little c), but he is certainly not at the head of any of these Churches (big Corp C). That is certainly not to say that God has no influence with them, but to rather say that we make idols of men. It's not fair to them and it's certainly not fair to us as disciples.<br /><br />And yes, as a 12 year old child I too was routinely asked if I masturbated. I didn't think anything of it, because it was part of the list of questions and the process was approved, stamped, and supported by God, so I thought. I can't even say the "m" word in front of my kids.&nbsp; Gross.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-55213988060327052622018-07-16T00:02:00.001-04:002018-07-16T00:02:34.978-04:00The Bible: a Set Apart Compilation of Books<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">What is the Bible?&nbsp;<br /><br />A holy (holy means "set apart")&nbsp;<br />compilation (compilation means "putting together")<br />of books (books being a set of thoughts, ideas and stories).&nbsp;<br /><br />Who decided what went into the Bible, the holy compilation of books?&nbsp; Do we know anything about the individuals who compiled it?&nbsp;<br /><br />Christians view the Bible as complete, inerrant, and perfect.&nbsp; Is that true?&nbsp; Let's examine this idea, just briefly.&nbsp;<br /><br />What was it about this compilation that caused it to be "set apart"?&nbsp; Was it simply a decision made, by the individuals compiling it? What power did they have?&nbsp; Were they gifted with heavenly power?&nbsp;<br /><br />Did the reader's honoring of it give it increased power to be set apart?&nbsp; Did the continuous reverence toward it as a sanctified (made holy) thing create it to be more power-filled?&nbsp;<br /><br />What if the holy-ness of the Bible is a man made thing?&nbsp; What if we stretch our minds a little, and suppose that the level of holy thoughts, holy ideas, and holy stories has no end?&nbsp; What if the Bible really extends to the vastness of time and eternity, and the life forms put on the planet?&nbsp;<br /><br />What if you are a living "bible", a holy set of thoughts, ideas, stories and experiences, and what if you are as unique and qualified to be important as Jacob, Isaac, Noah, Paul, Joseph or the rest?&nbsp; Naomi, Ruth, Mary, Eve... what if your story is equally as important?&nbsp; What would you do with your life?&nbsp; What would you do with your opinions?&nbsp; Your thoughts, ideas, and stories?&nbsp;<br /><br />Today I believe that God instilled an idea in my mind, that we all are part of the Bible.&nbsp; Our story has simply not been published yet, and in time, who knows but what our story will mean to someone down the road.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-816860902390109862018-04-29T23:14:00.002-04:002018-04-29T23:14:30.824-04:00Approaching the Throne of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Below are 10 things one MUST consider before approaching the holy throne of God.<br /><br />1. Location.&nbsp; Are you in the church, the temple, or a serene setting like a home or sacred space that has been properly prepared for you with reverence and serenity?<br />2. Modest dress.&nbsp; Are your shoulders and knees covered sufficiently to not cause embarrassment or shame before the Lord?&nbsp;<br />3. Grooming.&nbsp; Men, are you properly shaven and hair combed and parted on the side?&nbsp; No improper hair coloring or extreme cuts?&nbsp; Women, is your head covered at least with hair, and perhaps even a veil, head doily, bonnet, headband, or other covering?&nbsp;<br />4. Music.&nbsp; Have you prepared the visit by singing or playing at least 3 hymns on your electronic device or instrument?<br />5. Scriptures.&nbsp; Did you take time to study at least a handful of scriptures before approaching the throne?<br />6. Home.&nbsp; Is your home cleanly, allowing you to properly focus on parting the veil?<br />7. White.&nbsp; Are you not wearing any dark colors, which might invoke an improper spirit?<br />8. Kneeling.&nbsp; Are you kneeling properly, with your knees on the floor, and not sitting on your haunches? If you're in a temple, are you properly NOT kneeling, as that would cause disruption, distraction, and feelings of disrespect in or toward others?<br />9. Arms.&nbsp; Have you ensured that your arms are properly folded across your bosom, not causing distraction to yourself or others who might be with you by their flailing around?<br />10. Words.&nbsp; Are you comfortable using the proper prayer language, beginning with addressing your Holy Father by name, followed by thanks, then asking what you came for, and closing in-the-name-of-Jesus-Christ-Amen?&nbsp;<br /><br />These are all certainly things one needs to take into account before beginning to approach the Lord.&nbsp;<br /><br />Or they could just talk to Him in the car during heavy traffic.&nbsp;<br /><br />Or while lying in bed, drifting off to sleep.&nbsp;<br /><br />How about while sitting cross-legged on a park bench eating lunch.&nbsp;<br /><br />They could wear jeans and a ratty t-shirt.<br /><br />One could have their arms overhead, and be hanging upside down on a gymnasium bar in workout gear.<br /><br />Can we call out in prayer to our Lord in our fields, our closets, our workspaces, our dinner tables, our backyards, our garages, schools, and bathrooms?&nbsp; Or must we restrict ourselves to proper attire, proper form, and proper words?&nbsp;<br /><br />I don't think the Lord cares.&nbsp; While this post might come off as mocking satire, that's not the intent.&nbsp; There are religious individuals who feel very strongly about these details, and while I mean no disrespect to them, I do mean to question the importance of these rules and regulations they've interpreted.&nbsp; If we can get past the formalities, I think we might discover the Lord in our everyday lives so much more.&nbsp; These ideas are common beliefs that very well have the power to prevent us from allowing the Lord more fully into our lives.&nbsp; I pray to dispel them from mine, making it ever easier to approach the throne.&nbsp;<br /><br /></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-42800479650640575362018-04-22T00:09:00.004-04:002018-04-22T00:10:00.011-04:00Pelé & Priesthood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It was the writings of Daymon Smith that convinced me to view the idea of "priesthood" differently.&nbsp; He refers to it in a way as to suggest that, similar to the word neighborhood – which suggests an association of neighbors – that priesthood might similarly refer to an association of priests.&nbsp;<br /><br />What's a priest?&nbsp; In religious terms, it is one who has been chosen to participate in religious rites.&nbsp; In spiritual terms, a priest would be one who receives the power of God.<br /><br />It supposes me that there are many priests on earth, who have no formal religious ordination, but have received power of/from God.<br /><br /><b>Pelé: Birth of a Legend</b>, demonstrates this concept.&nbsp; Below are the final few minutes of the movie.&nbsp; (I recommend the entire movie.)&nbsp; The movie largely focuses on how Pelé advances in the soccer world, as a very young man (17 yrs old), and is trammeled in his talents and skills.&nbsp; He is forced to make a promise mid-movie that he will NOT play soccer on the world stage in the fashion that comes to him naturally.&nbsp; It was called ginja.&nbsp; To be permitted to continue playing he must play someone else's way.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7kLqoUt3fBs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kLqoUt3fBs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />In the minutes preceding this clip, we see Pelé's teammate giving him the encouragement he needs to ignore the promise he was forced to make, and to play with the gifts he was born with, and developed through his life's experience.&nbsp; It wasn't that his teammate said so, but the friend acknowledged and supported him in being who he was born to be.<br /><br />Some poignant moments:<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pelé's playing in a stadium filled with European "enemies" of sorts.&nbsp; The opposing coach had been quite scornful toward their team earlier in the movie.&nbsp; Sweden scores, confirming the public scorn the coach had launched prior to the game.&nbsp;</li><li>About 4:50, Pelé looks above the jubilant crowd, and observes the handful of dark-skinned Brazilians, nearly in the peanut gallery, and so much more is conveyed than a losing side's sadness.&nbsp; He realizes he's been playing someone else's way the whole game, and their team has been on the losing end because of it.&nbsp; Seeing Brazilians high up in the crowd reminds him who he is.&nbsp;</li><li>About 8 minutes, he looks at his teammates with whom a special bond had already formed.&nbsp; Time seems to slow as these men are reconnecting.&nbsp; They have already become close enough as to form a very strong brotherhood.&nbsp; It manifests here.&nbsp;</li><li>About 8:48, commentators observe that he's "smiling".</li><li>8:53 the Brazilian commentator speaks of the players acting in "perfect harmony".</li><li>9:00 the movie shifts to the view of Pelé's father, sitting among his peers in a crowded room, watching his son from very much afar – around the world even, through a tv barrier. You feel his pleasure, honor, joy for his son.&nbsp; He smiles deeply.</li><li>10:45 Pelé's dad discovers his wife in the crowd of jubilant Brazilians, watching via tv, and they connect.&nbsp;</li><li>11:45 Pelé faints and his brothers hoist him up on their shoulders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>I was shown that this is priesthood – an association of priests.&nbsp; Or in other words, this is how priesthood functions.&nbsp; Priesthood is when I think of my friend and she calls me, needing help, because we are connected invisibly through love.&nbsp; It is when I'm in the shower, and am led to offer to volunteer to serve someone just before they ask me for help.&nbsp; It's a stitching power, which while invisible to most mortals, knits our hearts together so that the unlikely can happen in some sort of synchrony.&nbsp; It's a sort of heavenly magic.&nbsp;<br /><br />This kind of priesthood cannot be controlled, sold, or harnessed, because it's not something that man can pass around like some sort of tangible "thing".&nbsp; Unless one has this power of love.&nbsp; Then the power<i>&nbsp;is</i>&nbsp;often nearly tangible.&nbsp; When there is not love, it is broken, as the stitching is less strong. This is why Christ indicated that the greatest commandment is to love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves.&nbsp; If we cannot have love for all three – God, our neighbors, and ourselves – we have no priesthood, or <i>association</i> of priests.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-15503968551745908222018-04-14T08:35:00.004-04:002018-04-15T15:25:35.986-04:00Water, Blood, Spirit, Dust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">And so I give to you a commandment to teach these things freely to your children,&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">saying that by reason of transgression comes the fall, which fall brings death.&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And inasmuch as you were born into the world by <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">water</span>,&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">and <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">blood</span>,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the <span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">spirit</span>,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">which I have made,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and so became <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><i>of dust</i></span> a living soul,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">even so you must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">water</span>, and of the <span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Spirit</span>, and be cleansed by <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">blood</span>, even the blood of mine Only Begotten, that you might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><i>words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory</i></span>.&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">For by water you keep the commandment.&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">By the Spirit you are justified.&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And by the blood you are sanctified.&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And so it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven,&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">the Comforter,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">the peaceable things of immortal glory,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the truth of all things,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">that which quickens all things,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">which makes alive all things,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">that which knows all things,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and has all power&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, behold, I say to you,&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><i>this</i> is the plan of salvation to all men</u>,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">through the blood</span> of my Only Begotten,&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">who shall come in the meridian of time.&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Moses 6:58-62, Simplified</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-17883084866397218022018-02-17T23:11:00.002-05:002018-03-07T16:20:50.278-05:00The Internet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Feeling awfully poetic of late, so for you, a poem of sorts, called The Internet, inspired by recent realizations post 2/14, which I feel heralded some sort of "shift", which I don't fully understand, but recognize nonetheless.<br /><br /><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The internet...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>invisible</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>powerful</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>connective</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>addictive</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>informative</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>liberating</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>oh, the internet!</i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Possessing a partially loaded tree of knowledge and wisdom but who really wants to eat </i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>tempting, bitter, sweet fruit?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Close your eyes! Turn it off!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wow, the internet!</i></div></blockquote></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-83684402722766455692018-02-15T23:14:00.000-05:002018-02-15T23:14:31.953-05:00Show Your Power<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A literary lament. A dirge, of sorts, and a mourning with those that mourn.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He that believes in me,&nbsp;</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do.”&nbsp;</span></i></div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Does anyone really believe this?&nbsp;</span></i></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do any actually walk the earth who do&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">what He does or did?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s been almost 2000 years. &nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Evangelists, preachers, apostles, prophets, believers, followers, missionaries, apostles...&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where are those that believe on Him,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who will not just pray,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but heal&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the flu by laying on hands,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">without medication, therapy or vaccination?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I call bull!&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who will raise the dead at these quarterly massacres&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and prove their righteous monotheistic power&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and successional authority holds any weight?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Show up, Christians! Mormons! Catholics!&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where are your beliefs and your believers?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who will heal the blindness by spitting in dirt&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and anointing the eyes&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">like the Jesus we claim to follow?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who will cast out demons&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(or even acknowledge they exist!)&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and their impounded implements&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and heal the lepers,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the cancers,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the Lyme’s,&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">rejecting 20 rounds of antibiotics&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or 30 rounds of chemo?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where are you (we!), believers???&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t know that I believe&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that our national, traditional belief holds power&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">when we parade and wave the flag&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but have nothing to show for it&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but pristine lawns and whited sepulchres.&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“They draw near to me with their lips&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but their hearts are far from me.”&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tonight, I see disillusion in my heart.&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Show your power, oh Lord, our God.”&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We sing it&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but do we believe it?&nbsp;</span></i></div></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t know.</span></i></div></span></i></blockquote><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-67247463787095455122017-10-26T06:36:00.002-04:002017-10-26T06:43:16.221-04:00The Name of Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines <a href="http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/covenant">covenant</a> in multiple ways. The third definition is interesting to me.<br /><blockquote>3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die.<br />The covenant of redemption, is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ.<br />The covenant of grace, is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.</blockquote>After Benjamin finished discussing his <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/10/mosiah-3.html">final sermon</a> to his people, he asked them if they believed his words, to which they replied that yes, they did.&nbsp; They express that they were willing to enter a covenant with God to<br /><br /><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i>do his will and&nbsp;</i></li><li><i>to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he would command, the remainder of their days.</i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ol><br />Benjamin was glad that they expressed this willingness, and declares to them that<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;"><i>"this day he has spiritually begotten you for you say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name therefore you are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters and under this head you are made free and there is no other head whereby you can be made free".</i></blockquote>He invites them then, to take upon themselves the name of Christ – those who have entered covenant with God, and declares them to be found at the right hand of God.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because they will be called by the name of Christ.<br /><br />I sat with this awhile, wondering by what name I am called.&nbsp; My name is Jen.&nbsp; My formal name is Jennifer.&nbsp; My old friends and my family sometimes call me Jenny.&nbsp; Some of my best friends call me JenHead and my husband calls me Sweetheart.&nbsp; My kids call me Mommy, while those who don't know me at all beyond my last name call me Ms. Kindrick.<br /><br />What would it sound like to be called by the name of Christ?&nbsp; Do I retain any of these names?&nbsp; Or do I add Christ to them?&nbsp; Jennifer Christ?&nbsp; Or just Christ?&nbsp; <br /><br />Do I call myself a Christian?&nbsp; Because in 2017, that denotes a different idea than what I suspect Benjamin was expressing.&nbsp; Or maybe it does?&nbsp; Do I call myself after the name of Mormon, believing in the Book of Mormon?&nbsp; This makes me scratch my head.&nbsp; We were never told to call ourselves Mormon, or after his name.&nbsp; But it does help people know that we believe (or purport to) the Book of Mormon – which end up pointing us to Christ anyways.<br /><br />The stipulations for being called this name are agreeing to do his will and to be obedient.&nbsp; Are Christians willing to do this, when they pronounce that they have been "saved" on "July 11, 2013", or whatever date they "accept Jesus into their heart"?&nbsp; Is this not very similar to what Benjamin is asking here?&nbsp; Typically when they are saved there is an understanding that their life is changed, and from my limited experience it is not something they take lightly.<br /><br />Benjamin says that this name will never be blotted out, except through transgression.&nbsp; It <i>is</i>&nbsp;possible for the name to be blotted out of our hearts.&nbsp; We are to be capable of hearing the voice by which we are called.&nbsp; The forthrightness of God is explained by Benjamin like this:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Does a man take an ass which belongs to his neighbor and keep him I say unto you nay he will not even suffer that he will feed among his flocks but will drive him away and cast him out I say unto you that even so will it be among you if you know not the name by which you are called."</i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div></blockquote>In all the times I've read the Book of Mormon, I don't think my eyes ever really saw this line above.&nbsp; God will not claim us as His, if we are not truly begotten by Him, becoming His by taking on His name.<br /><br />He further explains that he desires that once we are called by this name, we "always abound in good works that Christ the Lord God Omnipotent may seal you his."&nbsp; Seal you his what?&nbsp; Seal you <i>as</i>&nbsp;his, might be a more clear way to explain it.&nbsp; We are as though we now have that intimate relationship with him.&nbsp; In essence, we are moved from being called Ms. Kindrick to Jenny or JenHead.&nbsp; It is so simple yet so profound.&nbsp; This is the process by which we are sealed by Christ to himself.&nbsp; It begins simply, with our willingness to be taken into his family.&nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-39760928055622946162017-10-20T10:05:00.000-04:002017-10-20T10:10:33.099-04:00IF/THEN of Mosiah 2, King Benjamin's sermon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">King Benjamin's people had a deep response to his relaying of the message from the angel of the Lord.&nbsp; This post is a general summary of this chapter, in list form.&nbsp; As described in <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/10/mosiah-2.html">Mosiah 2</a>&nbsp;(Simple Edition), the people hearing his message:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fell to the earth (Quite dramatic, in my opinion.&nbsp; How often do I fall to the earth willingly, at a message or sermon?)</li><li>Fear of the Lord came upon them</li><li>They viewed themselves in their own, personal, carnal state, even <i>less</i>&nbsp;than the dust of the earth</li><li>They cried aloud in one voice, begging for 1) mercy, 2) atoning blood of Christ, that they might 3) receive forgiveness of sins and 4) that hearts may be purified</li><li>They expressed belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God who created heaven and earth and all things who <i>will come down</i>&nbsp;among the children of men</li></ul><div>After they had done this, what happened:&nbsp;</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The spirit of the Lord came upon them</li><li>They were filled with joy</li><li>having received a remission of their sins</li><li>having peace of conscience because of their exceeding faith in Jesus - who HAD NOT YET COME - but they believed Benjamin's account</li></ul><div>After all this, Benjamin their king begins to speak to them again, in this very interesting sermon.&nbsp; He's not yet done.&nbsp; He gives many important if/then statements, worth pondering.</div><div><br /></div><div>IF:&nbsp; &nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>IF the knowledge of the <i>goodness </i>of God has awakened you to a <i>sense&nbsp;</i>of your nothingness, worthlessness, and fallen state</li><li>IF you have come to the knowledge of the goodness of God and his <i>matchless </i>power, wisdom, patience and long suffering towards you, and the knowledge of the atonement prepared from the foundation of the world</li><li>IF you know that salvation might come to you that will put your trust in the Lord</li><li>IF you will be diligent in keeping his commandments</li><li>IF you will continue in the faith, even unto the end of your life (mortal body)</li></ul><div>THEN:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>THEN you receive SALVATION through the atonement prepared from the foundation of the world, which is available for ALL mankind - who ever were since the fall of Adam, who are or who will be until the end of the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><div>These are the keys of salvation.&nbsp; Keys of knowledge which open doors of information.&nbsp; Benjamin just told you.&nbsp; He underscores even more:&nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There is NONE other salvation except this one</li><li>There are NO other conditions whereby man can be saved</li><li>BELIEVE in God, that he is, that he (this "Jesus Christ", as explained above) created all things in heaven AND earth</li><li>Believe that he has all WISDOM in heaven and earth</li><li>Believe that he has all POWER in heaven and earth</li><li>Believe that man does not COMPREHEND all the things which the Lord can comprehend</li><li>Believe that you must repent of your sins, forsake them, and humble yourself before God</li><li>Believe that you must ask in sincerity of heart that he will forgive you</li></ul><div>Can you do this?&nbsp; Is this possible?&nbsp; Is this believe attainable?&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>IF:&nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You believe these things?&nbsp;</li></ul><div>THEN:&nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Do them</li></ul><div>IF:&nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>IF you come to the knowledge of the glory of God</li><li>IF you have known of his goodness</li><li>IF you have tasted of his love</li><li>IF you have received a remission of your sins which causes exceedingly great joy</li></ul><div>(Have you?&nbsp; These people did.)</div><div><br /></div><div>THEN REMEMBER:&nbsp;</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Remember the greatness of God</li><li>Remember your own nothingness</li><li>Remember his goodness and long suffering towards you unworthy creatures (lol! Don't mince words Ben!)</li><li>Remember to humble yourselves even in the DEPTHS of humility</li><li>Remember to call on the Lord daily</li><li>Remember to stand steadfast in the faith of what is to come (or what came, meaning Jesus)</li></ul>IF:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You do this</li></ul>THEN:&nbsp;</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You will ALWAYS rejoice!</li><li>You will be FILLED with the LOVE of God</li><li>You will ALWAYS&nbsp; retain a remission of your sins (because it can be lost)</li><li>You will grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you</li><li>You will grow in the knowledge of that which is just and true</li><li>You will not have a mind to injure one another</li><li>You will have a mind to live peaceably</li><li>You will have a mind to render to every man according to that which is his due</li><li>You will not suffer your children that they go hungry or naked</li><li>You will not suffer that your children transgress the laws of God, fighting and quarreling one with another</li><li>You will not serve the devil, the master of sin, the evil spirit enemy of all righteousness</li><li>You will teach your children to walk in the ways of truth and soberness</li><li>You will teach your children to love one another</li><li>You will teach your children to serve one another</li><li>You yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor</li><li>You will administer of your substance to those in need</li><li>You will not suffer the beggar to put their petition to you in vain</li></ul><div>[What stuck out to me dramatically, was an understanding that the blessing of being capable of teaching my children to have love for each other was part of the "then" section.&nbsp; It is a byproduct of the remembering listed above.&nbsp; I try so exceedingly hard to teach my children these things, but it ought not be difficult.&nbsp; If I take care of the remembering above, I am virtually promised, per this message, that the mind to live peaceably among my family will be a consequence.&nbsp; This would not have dawned on me had I not printed out this section, and begun circling "if" and "then", and underlining what appeared to be connected.]&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div>IF:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You impart of your substance to the poor, diligently</li></ul>THEN:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You win the prize</li></ul><div>[Again, imparting of my substance to the poor is a byproduct of the remembering section above.&nbsp; It ought not be difficult.]&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div>IF:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You do not watch yourself</li><li>You do not watch your thoughts</li><li>You do not watch your words</li><li>You do not watch your deeds</li><li>You do not observe the commandments (which Benjamin admits there are so many ways to sin, he cannot number them)</li><li>You do not continue in the faith of what you have heard</li></ul>THEN:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You must perish</li></ul></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-76498317520622727132017-10-19T13:01:00.000-04:002017-10-19T13:01:17.637-04:00Observances of Mosiah 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Study observances from <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/10/mosiah-1.html">Mosiah 1 (Simple version)</a>:&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>King Benjamin's father's name is Mosiah</li><li>King Benjamin uses the words "suffer" and "list" quite a bit more than the average speaker.&nbsp; (Original BoM uses "suffereth" and "listeth").&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>1828 Webster's Dictionary defines "<a href="http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/list">list</a>" in this manner, as the 6th definition of the transitive form of the verb -&nbsp; "To hearken; to attend; a contraction of listen, which see".&nbsp;</li><li>King Benjamin "could not teach them <i>all</i>&nbsp;within the walls of the temple".&nbsp; This infers that variant teaching was typically done inside the temple, rather than strictly routine teaching or strictly ritual.&nbsp;</li><li>His teachings, appropriate for the temple, were done outside the temple, open invitation.&nbsp; Attendance was encouraged.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>There are obviously quite a bit more deeper messages in this chapter.&nbsp; At the end, he relays a very important prophesy delivered by an angel of the Lord, which causes the people to literally fall upon the earth in the next chapter.&nbsp; What would it look like, for the fear of the Lord to fall upon the reader of chapter 1, like the listeners did live in the flesh?&nbsp;&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-86293010174756321032017-08-10T23:18:00.000-04:002017-08-10T23:30:21.949-04:00Beware of Sacred Secret Combinations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>This post has been a long time coming. &nbsp;I have tried several times to share this story for someone's benefit. &nbsp;In my mind, I have already published it those several times, but after searching more than once, I can't find any post where I discuss this experience. &nbsp;So with hope in mind that this may help someone, I share it. &nbsp;I hope it will further blessings, not cursings, and quite possibly help someone avoid the pain that has accompanied the lesson. &nbsp;It ran deep.</i> &nbsp;</blockquote><br />A friend taught me a long time ago to hold revelation loosely. &nbsp;He said it's important when you receive revelation, to hold it loosely enough that if more revelation were to come, it would not unsettle me because I allowed room for more gaps to be filled in, for more knowledge to be gained, and more wisdom to be inherited. &nbsp;To hold a revelation rigidly would not allow for greater light and knowledge to be gained, perhaps causing me to rigidly reject the new information, labeling it not of God. &nbsp;With that in mind, I sought increased personal revelation from God Almighty.<br /><br />During the time I was working closely with this male friend, seeking to learn the things of God. &nbsp;I felt he knew more than I did, so I trusted much of what he taught me. &nbsp;He later told me he really didn't know anything. &nbsp;Despite his repentance from his pride of believing he knew anything worth sharing, I still believe much of what he taught me contained a great deal of truth. &nbsp;It has withstood at very least, several years of time and careful evaluation and life experience. &nbsp;He was endowed with wisdom on this point of holding revelation loosely. <br /><br />About the same time I worked with him, I was friends with several individuals. &nbsp;They were seeking the things of God, as I was. &nbsp;One of the women had already learned amazing things, and I wanted to learn them too! &nbsp;These were things related to talents and skills I knew I held in myself, but didn't understand or know how to translate into everyday use. &nbsp;Looking back, it wasn't that this knowledge was impossible to learn, it was just that she had been down the path of finding it for a longer period of time than I had. &nbsp;For clarity in this post, I will call her the 'Revelator', as she claimed to receive information from angels and Jesus to pass along to the rest of us. &nbsp;I was <i>so</i>&nbsp;excited to know her! &nbsp;To learn from her! &nbsp;To work with her! &nbsp;So cool!<br /><br />Another female was seeking knowledge from the first - I'll call her the 'Elder', as she had wonderful skills and God-given blessings that appeared just as special as being able to receive clear revelation. &nbsp;Her experience seemed wise, compared to my inexperience. &nbsp;She was the one who had introduced me to the Revelator to begin with. &nbsp;And I was <i>so</i>&nbsp;excited to know her too! &nbsp;To be her friend was a gift I sincerely cherished, because I felt we were such kindred spirits. &nbsp;I absolutely loved her with all my heart, quite possibly more than any friend I'd had in a long time. &nbsp;I trusted her extensively. <br /><br />The third woman was a supporting friend who likewise associated with the other two. &nbsp;She appeared to hold so much charity that one could not help but love her. &nbsp;I'll call her the 'Charity'. At least it appeared to be charity. &nbsp;She was so very, very sweet, and lent the impression that she was on a constant spiritual high. <br /><br />And then there was me. &nbsp;I was several years younger than all of them. &nbsp;And I was poor and unkempt under the surface. &nbsp;Despite my inexperience in motherhood and life, I was chipper and happy and eager to be their friend. <br /><br />In time I considered myself very close friends with the three, joining them on the path towards God. &nbsp;And as I learned from them, it had been made clear to me, that certain things they shared with me were so special, so "sacred" that I ought never share outside the confidence of the group. &nbsp;It was quite like something kids might say on the playground or at a sleepover. &nbsp;"You're my bestest, bestest friend, so I'm going to share this private private information with you. &nbsp;PLEASE don't tell ANYONE what I'm going to tell you, ok?" &nbsp;Sure! &nbsp;I won't tell anyone, even though I have no idea what you're going to divulge. &nbsp;Tell me everything. &nbsp;As a person of integrity, I had no need or desire to break the trust they placed upon me. &nbsp; <br /><br />One day, things changed when I received a strong inclination to tell one of their revelations with my husband. &nbsp;In truth, who doesn't want to share intimate secrets with their spouse? &nbsp;The natural disposition of humans is to divulge secrets. &nbsp;And if one loves their spouse, would they not also want them to receive the special revelations of God, to progress along the path towards Him and know the things of Him? &nbsp;Is that not only natural, but Christlike love? &nbsp;To want everyone to be special, special, special and learn this understanding of sacred things?<br /><br />But wait. &nbsp;To share their revelations - which I all but promised and nearly-but-didn't-completely swear up and down not to – would be breaking trust with them. &nbsp;It would not only turn me into a gossip, but completely and clearly untrustable. &nbsp;Is that really you prompting me, God? &nbsp;Is this a test? &nbsp;Don't you want me to keep your revelations sacred? &nbsp;Is my husband worthy of such things? &nbsp;Would he reject the revelation, and by doing so, have his progression damned because he rejected information from God, despite it not being his own? <br /><br />I asked this question for days, weeks, and what felt like forever. &nbsp;I pushed off the prompting. &nbsp;No way would I share their secret. &nbsp;NO way. &nbsp;I was a woman of integrity, and I can keep confidences. &nbsp;But the feeling persisted. &nbsp;Was this the devil, pressuring me? <br /><br />Such confusion! &nbsp;Ugh! &nbsp; <br /><br />One day, I even talked to the Revelator about it. &nbsp;I didn't tell her specifically what I had been feeling, but just that I had been feeling led to do something that seemed or felt very contrary to anything I'd ever experienced. &nbsp;She confirmed that I'd need to follow my heart, which ironically was confirming that I needed to share this secret. <br /><br />What a betrayal! &nbsp;What a friend I wasn't! &nbsp;How could I do that??? &nbsp;Ugh!!!<br /><br />Trusting in the mercy of God, I proceeded one evening to share her secret with my husband. &nbsp;My hands shook. &nbsp;I was petrified! &nbsp;We were sitting in a restaurant on a date, and I could have sworn the whole room was listening, even the walls. &nbsp;Angels taking note, good or bad. <br /><br />My husband's response? &nbsp;He thought the revelation was nothing he cared to even discuss or hear more of, and left it at that. &nbsp;Next conversation, Jen. &nbsp;Eat your food. <br /><br />Little did I know that Charity was also receiving such promptings, but rather than follow them, she asked permission to share from the Revelator and the Elder. &nbsp;They adamantly and with much vehemence, declined her request, then strengthened the need and requirement for their secret to be kept among all of us by calling me to assert the requirement. &nbsp;When the Elder shared this information with me, I felt extreme guilt, and the next day apologized to her, admitting that I had already done such sharing. &nbsp;I called the Revelator and confessed likewise. &nbsp;She took in my apology, processed it, and a week or so later spent 45 minutes on the phone, yelling, deriding, chastising me, and furious that I was only acting on my own guilt, weakness, and need to feel accepted by my husband. Her confident belief was that I shared her secret to satisfy my own personal needs, and it had nothing to do with God's will. &nbsp;She was absolutely certain. &nbsp;And I believed her. <br /><br />I cried, I petitioned God for forgiveness, I cried and apologized for hours to my friend, the Elder. &nbsp;I mourned, literally sobbing at times. &nbsp;I could not feel any lower. &nbsp;After a few days I begged her to help me reconcile with the Revelator. &nbsp;After defending myself, asserting that I felt it was God's will for me to share, she was shocked at my audacity. &nbsp;I simply did not understand, she felt, the absolute PAIN I had caused, and I was not repentant enough to merit continuing the friendship. &nbsp;I needed to repent more for what I had done. &nbsp;This was all done via a very lengthy email, which included a rejection of our friendship as well. &nbsp;In her words, I was virtually cast out of the Garden of Eden. <br /><br />So confused, so heartbroken, so depressed, I cried AGAIN for days, asking God for forgiveness. &nbsp;Where had I gone wrong? &nbsp;Had I transgressed His commands, His requirements for keeping sacred things private? &nbsp;But my husband was not the devil, nor was he someone who would spread such things. &nbsp;Oh, what a mess! &nbsp;Such remorse, such regret. <br /><br />In talking to my male friend, who taught me to hold revelations loosely, he simply told me he didn't think I was wrong to share. &nbsp;He believed I had simply followed God's promptings. &nbsp;Simple. &nbsp;Nothing to be mourn about. &nbsp;And if I had greatly sinned, he did not feel it warranted great repentance and sackcloth and ashes. &nbsp;It was an honest attempt at listening. <br /><br />Could it be true? &nbsp;Was it possible that a lowly soul like me, who isn't a revelator, not particularly wise, and not exactly charitable, could receive a revelation which was contrary to women with such clear bestowals of heavenly power and wisdom? &nbsp;Could it be possible that I was right in obeying the command placed upon my heart? <br /><br />In sincere truth, whether I'm right or wrong, I know with my heart I did the absolute BEST I could do, with the information I had been given. &nbsp;It's been years since this took place and I feel no pedestal-like respect for any of them, yet no animosity either. &nbsp;Knowing I'm not a gossip, I know it could not possibly be my nature to want to spread people's personal information around just for the sake of sharing. &nbsp;I only knew how to follow my heart. &nbsp;From this I learned that the primary way I receive revelation is through the heart. &nbsp;And I don't know, but I strongly trust that I was doing what God asked me to do, whether or not these three witnesses of sorts believe that to be false or true. <br /><br />If I take a moment to imagine that I was wrong, there are myriad of scriptures to suggest that God appreciates our repentance, and will gather us as a hen gathers his chicks. &nbsp;He does not delight in casting people out of his garden, and to cast one away is a monumental, earth shattering event. &nbsp;This was not an earth shattering transgression in God's eyes, and He did not remove His influence from my life. &nbsp;If anything I learned to trust God more completely, relying less and less on the arm of the flesh. &nbsp;All good things.<br /><br />This experience prompted the early posts on this blog, about forgiveness, and relying on the mercy of Jesus for healing. &nbsp;Indeed, this experience initiated A Major Shift in my life, one I am still working on daily. <br /><br />God continues to remind me of this experience from time to time. &nbsp;Two main lessons stick out. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">1. &nbsp;This drama was one of the most powerful experiences I have had, in learning to bravely listen to the promptings of God. &nbsp;Hypothetically, one would think it might have been easier had He just spoken audibly to me, shown up to me, or otherwise made the instruction clear. &nbsp;But God is persuasive, gentle, meek, and patient. &nbsp;He did not force me to share the secret, but the prompting was persistent over time, not like a drug addiction, but a knowing that this step was required to fall back and trust in Him more.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Like it or not, I <i>was</i> part of a secret combination. &nbsp;There were three important parts to this combination. &nbsp;They will serve as red flags to me for the rest of my life. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There was secret information, considered sacred, that I was committed to never break from, disobey, or malign. In some ways, out of human decency, I continue to keep their secret private. &nbsp;</li><li>The consequence of revealing the information out of the combination meant a literal "death" of the relationship. &nbsp;Only those deemed worthy were permitted to participate in the combination.&nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;It required trusting the flesh, verbal commitments, and expression of spiritual confidence via "yay" or "nay".</li></ul><br /><br />Regardless of whether or not what was placed on my heart was from God, like I felt, or from the devil, like the women felt, I learned without a doubt, how to identify a secret combination. &nbsp;They are painful. &nbsp;They are innocent, at least to the ignorant. &nbsp;They are prideful. &nbsp;They are "special". &nbsp;And they are rampant, as it is an innate need for us to feel as though we "belong". &nbsp;Adlerian psychology suggests it is a primal need to belong, one of our core needs. <br /><br />Secret combinations are not limited to gangs, as we suppose in Sunday School class. &nbsp;They are not only accessible to the urban populations. &nbsp;They are not left to the evil, hateful disposition of people. &nbsp;These women were Mormon, spiritual, talented, kind, and generous. &nbsp;And because I shared a piece of information with another human, they (or I did, as they claim) obliterated our relationship, not by force, but by choice. &nbsp;My choice? &nbsp;I would have retained the relationships. &nbsp;Their choice? &nbsp;They exterminated it. &nbsp;I am beyond grateful for the experience. &nbsp;I wish to not be aligned with secret, holy or unholy combinations. &nbsp;The experience has allowed me to use this as a red flag to avoid future experiences with darkness claiming to be light. &nbsp;It was extremely painful, which acted as another red flag. <br /><br />And perhaps, should I err in my judgment, I trust God will continue to work with me as I repent of it. <br /><br />With love,<br />~Jen<br /><br />p.s. - After composing this piece several days ago, and leaving it in draft form, I was asked to share it today. &nbsp;I trust someone needs it, and hope, again, that it blesses the reader. &nbsp;I ask God to bless those involved, and hold no ill will towards any of the individuals discussed.&nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-74127774180097705282017-05-05T10:10:00.001-04:002017-05-05T10:14:44.616-04:00Free as a Bird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Birds have intrigued me during the last year. &nbsp;Inspired by bird feeders, bird books, bird statues, and living birds, I observe their freedom to act. &nbsp;They go where they want, unrestrained by borders, countries, laws and ordinances. &nbsp;Seeing what most other creatures will never see, they make the air their home. &nbsp;Having lightweight bones, slick feathers, and sharp beaks, they survive somewhere between heaven and earth. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhNYbcpovi4/WQyIiSKrHYI/AAAAAAAASk8/jsI1Am6hnrA95WsJ64GuBb8LwiZWeR2uACLcB/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhNYbcpovi4/WQyIiSKrHYI/AAAAAAAASk8/jsI1Am6hnrA95WsJ64GuBb8LwiZWeR2uACLcB/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>They often eat by pulling food from the earth, and taking it to higher ground. &nbsp;Their primary cautions are predators and weather. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZAnJEYxv2A/WQyIX0-UeuI/AAAAAAAASk4/E0Dh_75hgUodmwmlRBm2Ipr5ITs7UrPjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZAnJEYxv2A/WQyIX0-UeuI/AAAAAAAASk4/E0Dh_75hgUodmwmlRBm2Ipr5ITs7UrPjgCLcB/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />God is mindful of each sparrow, and knows when they fall. &nbsp;The average human pays little attention to birds, because they are not in their field of vision. &nbsp;But in spending more time looking at the sky, one observes a vast world of birds. &nbsp;Some extremely small. &nbsp;Some extremely large. &nbsp;What is their purpose?<br /><br />I suppose they are to teach me something about freedom. &nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-80121692063302777312017-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:002017-05-04T09:00:27.030-04:00Glory in my Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CG6dGHGPeC4/WQiVi-1EXoI/AAAAAAAASkg/tPCPikcMsHEBSzHEK7ZzQZsIttyJABy5wCLcB/s1600/FontCandy%2B%252833%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CG6dGHGPeC4/WQiVi-1EXoI/AAAAAAAASkg/tPCPikcMsHEBSzHEK7ZzQZsIttyJABy5wCLcB/s400/FontCandy%2B%252833%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-55056216850178428512017-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:002017-05-03T09:00:15.961-04:00Nephi's last words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nephi leaves an ominous warning to the reader of his book. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And now my beloved brethren&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>all those who are of the house of Israel&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and all you ends of the earth&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>farewell&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>until that great day will come&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and you that will not partake of the goodness of God&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and respect the words of the Jews&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and also my words&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the words which will proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>behold I bid you an everlasting farewell&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for these words will condemn you at the last day&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for what I seal on earth will be brought against you at the judgment bar&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for thus has the Lord commanded me and I must obey&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Amen</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/04/2-nephi-15.html">2 Nephi 15 SC</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Having completed a recent reading of 1 and 2 Nephi over the last few months, I ask myself, "What is Nephi's message?" &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here he warns, that if:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>you who choose not to partake of God's goodness,&nbsp;</li><li>nor respect the words of the Jews (not necessarily their traditions, which Nephi denounces, but the testaments which come from them),&nbsp;</li><li>nor respect Nephi's own words,&nbsp;</li><li>nor have ear for the words which come from the Lamb</li></ul><div>– these words will condemn those who choose to ignore them. &nbsp;What is Nephi's overreaching message? &nbsp;He's pretty serious about wrapping up the book. &nbsp;He clearly took a lot of effort to share certain things for us. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>My observations:&nbsp;</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Nephi's books are filled with visions, revelations, dreams</li><li>His books recount the consequences of sin</li><li>He laments openly about his weaknesses</li><li>He is passionate about loving his God, who he calls "my Jesus" (reminds me of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xXIOBJYMc8">this guy</a>!)</li><li>He has sealing power</li><li>He encouraged face to face meeting with God</li><li>He glories in plainness – there are not "hidden" gotchas that one must try feverishly to read between lines. &nbsp;</li><li>He reveals everything he possibly can about how to enter the "path", states little or nothing of special churches, groups, clubs or groups which require pacts, promises, or combinations</li><li>He preaches the importance of baptism of water, of fire, of Holy Ghost, and entering into the "path"</li></ul><div>I have grown to have an immense appreciation and love for Nephi. &nbsp;I have read and heard others say that they find his writings and personality dry, boring, and humorless. &nbsp;One author I read commented that he would probably not be likely to participate in friendship with Nephi because he seemed to be a bland kind of guy. &nbsp;People used to comment in church how they could never "get through" his book, especially his retelling of Isaiah's accounts. &nbsp;I find that reading Nephi's account in the <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/">Simple Copy</a> has opened my eyes up to his heart, his passion, and his personality. &nbsp;I don't find him dry at all. &nbsp;I find Olde English dry. &nbsp;</div></div></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-5564694549836818282017-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:002017-05-02T10:09:49.430-04:00The Tongue of Angels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPznT8SogxY/WQeKkthdLOI/AAAAAAAASkM/cOubk1KBmd8RicGnSifUhx6KPf_3vDJaACLcB/s1600/FontCandy%2B%252832%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPznT8SogxY/WQeKkthdLOI/AAAAAAAASkM/cOubk1KBmd8RicGnSifUhx6KPf_3vDJaACLcB/s640/FontCandy%2B%252832%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/04/2-nephi-14.html">2 Nephi 14 SC</a></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-57540083115657715792017-05-01T15:08:00.001-04:002017-05-01T15:08:02.360-04:00A New Tongue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>behold&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my beloved brethren</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>thus came the voice of&nbsp;</i><i>the <span style="color: #bf9000;">Son</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto me saying</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"After you have repented&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of your sins&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and witnessed&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto the Father</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that you</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>are willing to keep&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my commandments&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by the baptism of water&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>have received&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the baptism of fire&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and of the Holy Ghost&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and can speak with a new tongue&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>yes&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>even with&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the tongue of angels&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and after&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>this should deny me&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>it would have been better&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for you&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that you had not known me"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And I heard a voice from&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the <span style="color: #a64d79;">Father</span>&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>saying "yes,&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the words of my beloved&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>are true and faithful</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that endures to the end&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the same&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>will be saved"&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And now my beloved brethren</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know by this&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that unless a man will endure&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to the end&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in following the example&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of the Son of the living God&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he cannot be saved&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>wherefore do the things which I have told you&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>-Nephi</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/04/2-nephi-13.html">2 Nephi 13</a> RE</i></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-65901185943395308472017-04-30T15:36:00.001-04:002017-04-30T15:36:06.572-04:00I love you, pass it on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U70eXAQZzXs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U70eXAQZzXs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br /></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-63159116005381506952017-04-27T14:00:00.000-04:002017-04-27T15:09:44.331-04:00Lambs and Doves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In 2 Nephi 13 (<a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/04/2-nephi-13.html">Simple Copy</a>), Nephi says – and I take liberty in likening it in form of a poem for deeper analysis – and items in parenthesis are added by myself:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And now if the Lamb of God&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvDEwTysJcw/WQIwbXXEvlI/AAAAAAAASj0/IvKmFH64b-c08uGKCs768W5bCRkJaN3tACLcB/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvDEwTysJcw/WQIwbXXEvlI/AAAAAAAASj0/IvKmFH64b-c08uGKCs768W5bCRkJaN3tACLcB/s320/lamb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he being holy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>should have need&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to be baptized&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by water&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to fulfil all righteousness&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>O&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>then how much more need&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>have we&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>being unholy&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to be baptized&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>yes&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>even by water&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And now&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I would ask of you&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my beloved brethren&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>wherein the Lamb&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of God did fulfil&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>all righteousness&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in be(-)ing&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>baptized by water&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Know you not&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he was holy&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>notwithstanding he being holy&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he shows&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto the children&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of men&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that according to the flesh he humbles himself&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>before the Father&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and witnesses&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto the Father&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he would be obedient&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto him&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in keeping his commandments&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>wherefore&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>after&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he was baptized with water&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the Holy Ghost descended upon him&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in the form of a dove&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHi2QmZy5JM/WQIwE08-IbI/AAAAAAAASjw/ZL0HmzWygkUcUNXgqFyILGt9L3PMWFCzwCLcB/s1600/white%2Bdove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHi2QmZy5JM/WQIwE08-IbI/AAAAAAAASjw/ZL0HmzWygkUcUNXgqFyILGt9L3PMWFCzwCLcB/s320/white%2Bdove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And again&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It shows unto the children&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of men&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the straightness&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of the path&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the narrowness&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of the gate&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by which they should enter&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he having set the example before them&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And he said unto the children&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of men&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>follow you me&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wherefore&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my beloved brethren&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>can we follow&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>save we will be willing&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to keep the commandments of the Father&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And the father said&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>repent you repent you (YOU REPENT! &nbsp;YOU REPENT!!!)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and be baptized&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in the name of&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>beloved Son&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And also&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the voice of the Son came&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto me saying&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>he&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that is baptized in my name&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to him&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>will the father give&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the holy Ghost&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>like&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unto me&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>wherefore follow me&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and do the things&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>which you have seen me do&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wherefore&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my beloved brethren&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know that if you&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>will follow the Son&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with full purpose of heart&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>acting no hypocrisy and&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>no deception before God&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but with real intent&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>repenting of your sins&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>witnessing unto the Father&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that you are willing&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to take upon you the name of Christ&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by baptism yes&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water according to his word&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>behold then&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>will you receive the holy Ghost&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>yes then&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>comes the baptism of fire&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and of the Holy Ghost&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and then</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>can you speak&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with the tongue of angels&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and shout&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>praises unto the Holy One of Israel(!)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">As an aside:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nephi is well aware of Christ's given name. &nbsp;He refers to the Lamb of God several times in chapter 13. &nbsp;He also references the dove. &nbsp;He also references the voice of the Father. &nbsp;If Christ is both described and named as the Lamb, the Holy Ghost is as a dove, what do you suppose the Father may be likened to?&nbsp;</div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-31640788007426959182017-04-27T11:49:00.001-04:002017-04-27T11:53:57.906-04:00Phases of a New Dispensation <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am always open to self-introspection, and self-examination. &nbsp;As I have identified myself in the past few years to be a part of the "LDS Remnant" movement, constant examination of what is going on within myself and without in the greater movement it is critical. &nbsp;If one believes they are on a straight and narrow path, examining the compass is ALWAYS welcome, in my opinion. <br /><div><br /></div><div>What follows is a copy of a piece I was invited to share anonymously from a small fellowship which desires their identity to remain private. &nbsp;I believe it valuable for introspection and examination. &nbsp;If false, it could be disregarded. &nbsp;If true, it could be used to re-align the compass. <br /><br />Note: this is part of a larger document which may provide added insight into reasons why these items were included here. &nbsp;Readers may leave a comment should they be desire to be connected with the authors. :)<br /><h3 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: ScalaSans, LucidaSans, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">Phases of A New Dispensation<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="NewPhasesOfMormonism" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7;"></a></h3><ul style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, Verdana, Georgia, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phase 1: The Second Comforter</strong><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Began with his book The Second Comforter, published in 2006</li></ul></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phase 2: Remembering the Covenant</strong><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Noted by: "Still not getting it, still need help."</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Began with his blog. Ended before 40YIM with&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-sign.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;">A Sign</a></em>, though the blog continued for two more years, almost exactly, lasting six months after the last 40YIM talk.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ended with&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Sign</em>&nbsp;and the next post was an announcement publishing a 5 volumes series of Blog. The Fifth volume ends with&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Sign</em>.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Started 2/2010 (blog start date)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ended 3/2013 (blog titled&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Sign</em>. Blog continues for two more years)</li></ul></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phase 3: Forty Years in Mormonism</strong><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Noted by: 40 Years in Mormonism talks</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">These talks contained a mix of "get your own" and setting up a non-legal organization, loose fellowships with rules on how to act in those fellowships so there would be some order (public vs. private). For example, authority was only to be had between the individual and the Lord. Authority to act in the fellowship required a vote.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Announcement of an eventual temple.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Forty years was a condemnation given to Israel until the current generation died off. On 4/2017 Denver&nbsp;<a href="http://denversnuffer.com/2017/04/the-lords-people-israel/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;">posted&nbsp;</a>a scripture that referenced the number 10.&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it."</em></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Started 9/2013 (first talk)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ended 9/2014 (last talk)</li></ul></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phase 4: Suffering an Idolatrous People</strong><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Creation of DenverSnuffer.com (3/2015). His&nbsp;<a href="http://denversnuffer.com/2015/03/recorder/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">first real post</a>&nbsp;and action on the site was to nominate a recorder.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Recorder’s Clearing house and objections are raised to Keith using the official site/logo to promote his opinions. (4/2015)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Adrian Larsen’s logo. (9/2015)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Claimed that “Moses” gave the higher law and now we are getting something lesser. Noted by&nbsp;<a href="http://denversnuffer.com/2016/04/why-a-temple/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Why a Temple</em></a>&nbsp;blog post where he states temples are a mercy for those who can’t “obtain the covenant” on their own. (4/2016)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Claimed by some that there is an effort to “overthrow the doctrine of Christ” by adding requirements for salvation.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Announcement of scriptures as a covenant and that those who make a covenant should be allowed to depart those who didn’t. (3/2017)</li></ul></li></ul></div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-6418713722589097312017-04-25T12:30:00.001-04:002017-04-25T12:31:13.173-04:00The Phoenix Dream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A few months ago, I had a dream, where I was heading to attend a conference in Phoenix. &nbsp;I had driven thousands of miles from home, to attend a conference, where members of the LDS Remnant group were gathering. &nbsp;Driving in a caravan of white vans, we were led into a sports complex, where there was a covered building where these friends were gathering. &nbsp;I entered the building, and there were ladies of the Remnant Relief Society, who were gathered and sitting at tables, crocheting or crafting small spinner crafts made with paper and craft sticks. &nbsp;Walking close to a round table of ladies, I observed over the shoulders of those who had already arrived earlier than I had, and tried to gather, through context clues, what they were making, and how to make my own. &nbsp;I watched and watched, but couldn't quite gather all the details. <br /><br />Realizing I'd have to make a gamble on my own, I sat down at a table, where a few other women were seating, working on their projects. &nbsp;Beginning my own craft, I picked up the paper and craft sticks and glue, and started focusing on my work. &nbsp;I sat in frustration, knowing I should ask for help, but also knowing it was the nature of the individuals in this group to censure one another when new people didn't understand the way. &nbsp;And not that I was new and ignorant, I just didn't have all the instruction that they had received, due to arriving later to the gathering. &nbsp;After sitting for what felt like 15 minutes, I dared to look up to the lady next to me, and ask her for some help. &nbsp;But I knew I shouldn't have. <br /><br />Immediately she furrowed her eyebrows, scolding me with her eyes. &nbsp;Then her lips. <br /><br />"If you needed help you should have asked long ago! &nbsp;You've been here for 15 minutes already!" &nbsp;Her insults didn't stop, even though her lips did, as I knew what she was thinking as she stood up and walked away behind me. <br /><br />I heard a voice whisper to my right ear, from someone different. &nbsp;Not understanding it, I turned my head to the right in hopes to hear better. &nbsp;I asked, "What?" &nbsp;The message was repeated, with hands covering the individual's mouth, so only I would hear. &nbsp;But again, I didn't understand it. &nbsp;Still with my head to the right, I said, "I'm really sorry, I don't understand what you're saying. &nbsp;Can you say it again please?" <br /><br />The third time the woman spoke to me, and I understood. &nbsp;She told me, through the back of my head somehow, to "Look up to the hands that hang/come/reach down." &nbsp;I am unsure if I saw hands reaching down through the clouds, or just knew they were there, but the image is emblazoned in my memory. &nbsp;I knew she was an angel at this point. &nbsp; <br /><br />This is my report of the dream from February, 2017.&nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-81197154902619347642017-03-23T18:39:00.002-04:002017-03-23T18:42:12.957-04:00Exactness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Most LDS consider the word "exactness" a symbolic totem of sorts. &nbsp;It represents temple commitments and how they are to live out their lives.<br /><br />I searched the word "exactness" in my Gospel Library app. &nbsp;In the Old Testament, there were zero citations using the word "exactness". &nbsp;However the word "exact" occurs once in the Epistle Dedicatory, and reflects an idea synonymous with the word "specific". &nbsp;After that, the word "exact appears four times. &nbsp;The word "exacted" appears twice. &nbsp;"Exaction" occurs twice. &nbsp;In every case, outside the Epistle Dedicatory, it refers to taxation or collection of moneys or debts. <br /><br />In the New Testament, only the word "exact" appears, and only one time. &nbsp;Also referring to the tax collector (AKA "publican") collecting no more than he is required. <br /><br />In the Book of Mormon, here is the count:<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>exact - 1</li><li>exacted - 1</li><li>exactness - 1</li></ul><div>The use of "exactness" is the only one which refers to something other than taxes or collection of monies. &nbsp;However it is completely possible that the word exactness <i>did</i>&nbsp;refer to the traditional use of the word, however in our modern reading we equate the word with "precise" or "specific". &nbsp;A linguistic or scripture scholar might be able to consider an alternate meaning for this.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Doctrine and Covenants uses the word "exactly" three times, all in Official Declaration 1. &nbsp;All cases refer to a definition synonymous with the word "specific, precisely".&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The Pearl of Great Price uses the word "exactly" one time. &nbsp;It is when Joseph says a pillar of light was exactly over his head. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I find it extremely peculiar that this word is used so infrequently in scripture. &nbsp;The total count comes to 20 times, in various forms, throughout hundreds of pages of scripture. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-27705354224176961712017-03-22T23:11:00.001-04:002017-03-22T23:11:20.246-04:00Edit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tonight I felt to make a change. &nbsp;What was previously linked as a "Sloppy Copy of the Book of Mormon" is retitled to <i>Simple book of Mormon</i>. &nbsp;The URL is now here:&nbsp;<a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/">http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/</a>&nbsp; I hope you find as much benefit from it as I have. &nbsp;</div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349572620036160365.post-61842680331596096312017-01-27T16:44:00.000-05:002017-03-30T17:07:36.274-04:00Words of Moses/Nephi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This afternoon I finished reading and revising <a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-nephi-7.html">1 Nephi 7</a> (in my <strike><a href="http://simplebookofmormon.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-nephi-7.html">Sloppy Coppy</a></strike>&nbsp;[edit] Simple Copy) for my kids. &nbsp;Something interesting stuck out to me, probably with current events going on. &nbsp;This part here:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"But it is the kingdom of the devil which will be built up among the children of men which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh for the time speedily will come that all churches which are built up to get gain and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world and to do all manner of iniquity yes in fine all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear and tremble and quake they are those who must be brought low in the dust they are those who must be consumed as stubble and this is according to the words of the prophet"</blockquote>(Forgive the lack of punctuation, but that is one purpose of my sloppy copy revision. &nbsp;It allows me to see the words freshly.)<br /><br />To bullet this out for clarity, these are identifiers of the enemy's kingdom: <br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>established among those in the flesh</li><li>any/all church built up to get gain</li><li>all those (churches? individuals?) who are built up to get power over flesh</li><li>all those (churches? individuals?) who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world</li><li>those who seek the lusts of the flesh</li><li>those who seek the things of the world</li><li>those who do all manner of iniquity</li></ul><div>Bullets 2 and 3 are assumed to speak of churches, but it is possible they refer to individuals as well. &nbsp;So the question remains, for me, do I participate or encourage any of these things. &nbsp;Do I worry myself with being in a church built up to get gain, or make money in any way off of people? &nbsp;Do I seek to get power over flesh? &nbsp;Do I seek to become popular in the eyes of others, especially the "world"? &nbsp;Do I seek the lust of my flesh? &nbsp;Do I seek the things of the world, like fine cars, fine homes, superior schooling, lavish entertainment or self indulgences? &nbsp;Do I participate in any manner of iniquity? &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>It's difficult to say I don't participate in any of those things. &nbsp;Best not to point the finger, but rather use the words of Nephi, quoting the prophet Moses, for introspection. &nbsp;</div><br /><br /></div>jenheadjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729691287229935563noreply@blogger.com3